Point guard Jason Gardner was scoreless for the first time in his twoseasons with the Wildcats.

Walton pointed to his new Marine-style haircut, a far cry from his father'slong-haired appearance in his playing days.

'That is what did it for me,' Walton said. 'I just wanted a new look forthe tournament.'

Deaundra Tanner and Jimmie Haywood each scored 15 for the Beavers (10-18,4-12), who lost for the 19th consecutive time at McKale Center. Jason Heideadded 13 points for Oregon State.

'They have the ability to go to their bench and we don't have thatluxury,' Oregon State coach Ritchie McKay said. 'We are short-handed, andthey are deep in their lineup with Eugene Edgerson, Justin Wessel and LukeWalton.'

The Wildcats took control with a 20-6 run in the first half after a raretechnical foul against Olson. Tanner sank both Oregon State free throws to cutthe lead to 12-10 with 12:26 left in the half.

Arizona, with a lineup of five reserves, went on an 11-3 spurt to go up25-13 on Edgerson's two free throws with 7:30 left. When the 20-6 outburstended on Arenas' two free throws with 4:11 left in the half, the Wildcats led32-26.

The teams played to a virtual, and sometimes sloppy, standoff after that.

'It seemed like once we got up 18 or whatever, it sort of looked like welost interest,' Olson said. '`Let's just get this thing over with' is what itlooked like.'

Arizona led by as many as 20 before Oregon State outscored the Wildcats 13-4at the finish. The final 11-point margin was as close as the methodical Beaversgot in the second half.

'Our big guys got into foul trouble early and as thin as we are, we needeverybody healthy,' Haywood said. 'In the first half we had a lot of mentallapses and it hurt us. Instead of just playing and do what we do best, we werethinking too much out on the court.'

McCay drew a technical for running onto the court to complain that Jeffersonhad a foot on the line on a free throw. Wright made those two free throws togive Arizona a 35-18 lead with 3:29 left in the half.

Jefferson's 14-footer 2:14 before halftime gave the Wildcats their biggestfirst-half lead 37-19. Arizona led 39-23 at the break.

Arizona reserves scored 20 of the team's 39 first-half points.

Oregon State's Brian Jackson fouled out with 17:12 left in the game andfinished with two points.